[Let's Play] Fighting Fantasy 20 - Sword of the Samurai

[Queen of Swords]

Poor Moichi. I knew he wasn't long for the world, but still.

I'd go with the war fan because the helmet is silver, which doesn't seem like the most practical metal in battle.

[JourneymanN00b]

Since there is a 2-2 tie between the war-fan and the helmet, I will break the tie and have Gogo Yubari pick up the war-fan and open it.

182
You open the iron war-fan. It reveals a beautiful image painted on its spread blades, an insignia you do not recognize, something very ancient: nine gold arrow fletches pointing inward to a blue circle, the whole set on a plain white background. Puzzled, you fold it up and place it in your backpack. Will you put on the helmet, if you have not already done so (turn to 210), drink from the bottle, if you have not already done so (turn to 196), or leave the cavern (turn to 222)?

[spoiler][/spoiler]

Please vote before 6:00 PM PDT to guarantee that it will be counted.

Adventure Sheet:
[spoiler]Gogo Yubari
SKILL: 12 Initial Skill = 12
STAMINA: 13 Initial Stamina = 20
LUCK: 8 Initial Luck = 8
NOTES:
Possesses Katana and Wakizashi, Battle Armour, Backpack, Bow, 3 Willow-leaf Arrows (2 STAMINA damage), 1 Bowel-raker (3 STAMINA damage), 1 Armour-piercer (2 STAMINA damage, required for use against certain opponents), 3 Humming Bulbs (1 STAMINA damage, makes a frightening noise), Headband of Shinmen, 115 Gold Pieces, White Eagle Feather Arrow (can dispel evil spirits), Suit of Samurai Armour, War-fan
HONOUR: 7
PROVISIONS REMIANING: 8
SPECIAL SKILL: Kyujutsu
[/spoiler]

[Darth Rabbitt]

“If you have not already done so” suggests that neither of the others are lethal, but this was potentially useful so I suspect they’re still troll options. Leave the cavern.

[Queen of Swords]

this was potentially useful so I suspect they’re still troll options. Leave the cavern.

Agreed.

[Thaluikhain]

That may well be right, but half vote to put on the shiny helmet anyway.

[Beroli]

Leave.

[JourneymanN00b]

Votes tallied, Gogo Yubari will leave the cavern, since that option won over putting on the helmet by a 3-0.5 vote.

222
The exit tunnel curls upward until you can see a small circle of light ahead from a cave entrance under a rocky overhang on a hillside. The hill slopes down into a shallow valley with a road running its length. It is the main road. You must follow it north to reach Onikaru and Ikiru. Turn to 386.

386
You come out of the valley and are faced by a large, forbidding forest, stretching away for miles to either side. The road disappears into its depths like a stone into water. You recognize it as the Forest of Shadows, and you must go through it. Turn to 112.

112
You follow the thin woodland trail that winds and bends through the clustered boles of the Forest of Shadows. The trees are so closely packed that only a fraction of the sun’s rays filter down, in shafts of dusky light filled with motes of dust that float slowly in the air. It is dim and murky, and the sounds of forest life intrude faintly on the edge of your consciousness as you walk on, as if in a waking dream.

Suddenly you stumble out into a broad clearing, your eyes filled with light. You shake your head to clear it, when a sound in the air causes you to look up. A great dragon is floating down towards you. It has a long sinuous body, like a massive serpent, but with four clawed legs. Its head is horned with great, glaring, amber eyes. It has no wings, but seems to be walking on air. It is a Tatsu, a wingless dragon that can walk on sky, sea and land. It settles before you, hovering a few feet off the ground. Its amber eyes regard you placidly, then it speaks in a rich, deep voice, resonant with knowledge and power.

‘Welcome to the heart of the forest, mortal. I am the guardian – and there are certain celestial laws that bind me.’ It seems to smile at you, if dragons can be said to smile at all! ‘You must answer two riddles I shall put to you. If you answer them correctly, you may pass through the forest. If not, well … then I shall eat you. And you cannot run. No one can pass through this forest safely without first dealing with me.’ Then it laughs as if its last few words were obvious. Turn to 2.

2
‘Well, man-thing, here is the first riddle:

In marble halls as white as milk,
Lined with a skin as soft as silk,
Within a fountain crystal-clear,
A golden apple doth appear;
No doors are there to this stronghold
Yet thieves break in and steal the gold.’

The Tatsu stares at you in greedy anticipation. When you think you have the answer, take each letter of the answer (don’t count words such as ‘a’ or ‘the’), convert it to its corresponding number in the alphabet (i.e. a number from 1 to 26), add them together and turn to that paragraph number.

So, if the answer was ‘fire’ (which it isn’t!), you would turn to 38.

F I R E
6 + 9 + 18 + 5 = 38

If the paragraph you turn to is the wrong one (it won’t make sense!), turn to 26.

[spoiler][/spoiler]

Please vote before 9:00 AM PDT or a choice gets a 3-vote majority to guarantee that it will be counted.

[Beroli]

Egg. Or eggs. Hopefully incorrect pluralization will not be treated as a wrong answer, since there's no way, in-character, that the Tatsu would miss that we got the answer.

Also, eat a Meal.

[Thaluikhain]

[spoiler][/spoiler]

Oh right, spoiler tags still aren't working.

[Darth Rabbitt]

Yeah, it's either "egg" (assuming my math is correct, 5+7+7=19) or "eggs" (again assuming I can still math 5+7+7+19=38).

Seconding eating a meal.

[JourneymanN00b]

“Egg” (or acceptable variations of it) got 3 votes, so Gogo Yubari will give it as the answer by going to paragraph 19. She will also suck an egg to restore 4 Stamina points.

19
The Tatsu seems disappointed. ‘An egg. Yes, that is right, man-thing.’ Then it brightens, the look of greed coming back into its eyes. ‘But can you succeed again, sharp-witted mortal?

When one does not know what it is,
Then it is something;
But when one knows what it is,
Then it is nothing.’

Again, when you think you have the answer, take each letter of the answer, convert it to its corresponding number in the alphabet, add them together and turn to that paragraph number. If the paragraph you turn to is the wrong one, turn to 26.

[spoiler][/spoiler]

Once again, please vote before 9:00 AM PDT or a choice gets a 3-vote majority to guarantee that it will be counted.

Adventure Sheet:
[spoiler]Gogo Yubari
SKILL: 12 Initial Skill = 12
STAMINA: 17 Initial Stamina = 20
LUCK: 8 Initial Luck = 8
NOTES:
Possesses Katana and Wakizashi, Battle Armour, Backpack, Bow, 3 Willow-leaf Arrows (2 STAMINA damage), 1 Bowel-raker (3 STAMINA damage), 1 Armour-piercer (2 STAMINA damage, required for use against certain opponents), 3 Humming Bulbs (1 STAMINA damage, makes a frightening noise), Headband of Shinmen, 115 Gold Pieces, White Eagle Feather Arrow (can dispel evil spirits), Suit of Samurai Armour, War-fan
HONOUR: 7
PROVISIONS REMIANING: 7
SPECIAL SKILL: Kyujutsu
[/spoiler]

[Thaluikhain]

Something along the lines of secret, mystery, puzzle or magic? Not sure which one though.

[Queen of Swords]

A riddle?

[Beroli]

Riddle.

[Darth Rabbitt]

Another old riddle, to which the answer is riddle. Very meta.

[JourneymanN00b]

Votes registered, Gogo Yubari will give "riddle" as the answer by going to paragraph 52.

52
The Tatsu stiffens in surprise and frustrated rage. ‘A riddle, yes. Curse you, mortal!’ it bellows. For a moment you think it is going to attack you, but then it subsides. ‘You have won your passage with honour, and you are free to go. Before you do, listen to my words:

‘If you should find yourself in the Tourney of the Planes, and it comes to pass that you slay the Dai-Oni, invoke the Jizo of Demons thus: “A Sura is here, O Jizo. Come and execute your purpose.”’

With that cryptic message, the Tatsu takes to the air and is gone. In its place is a jade talisman, shaped like a dragon. You pick it up and examine it. It is a Talisman of Fortuitous Circumstance. Add 2 to your LUCK. You press on through the wood. Turn to 82.

[spoiler][/spoiler]

82
[spoiler][/spoiler]

Eventually you come out of the Forest of Shadows. In front of you the track becomes a road that runs across an ancient stone bridge, over a river. It is the Hiang-Kiang River, and the bridge is the Hagakure Bridge. Beyond it, on the horizon, rise the Shios’ii Mountains.

As you walk on to the bridge everything around you changes; it is as if you had stepped into another world. All the landmarks are the same – the bridge, the mountains and so on – but the sky is darker now. The river to either side of the bridge is red as blood and skeletal bodies, skulls, bones and limbs float on its surface.

Before you stands a hideous apparition. It is a Samurai warrior, but one who has been long dead. A grinning skull rests inside the helmet and each skeletal hand clutches a sword. The flag attached to its back, adorned with skulls, reads ‘Evil Death’. The undead warrior leaps into the air and comes down before you. You must fight it.

UNDEAD SAMURAI SKILL 9 STAMINA 11

If you reduce its STAMINA to 5 or less, turn to 32.

The fight:
[spoiler]Round 1: Undead Samurai Attack Strength: 20, Player Attack Strength: 16;
Undead Samurai Stamina: 11, Player Stamina: 15
Round 2: Undead Samurai Attack Strength: 15, Player Attack Strength: 16;
Undead Samurai Stamina: 9, Player Stamina: 15
Round 3: Undead Samurai Attack Strength: 15, Player Attack Strength: 21;
Undead Samurai Stamina: 7, Player Stamina: 15
Round 4: Undead Samurai Attack Strength: 15, Player Attack Strength: 22;
Undead Samurai Stamina: 5, Player Stamina: 15 [/spoiler]

The Undead Samurai gets a lucky blow of 2 Stamina damage before Gogo Yubari manages to cut the Undead Samurai down to 5 Stamina.

32
[spoiler][/spoiler]
The undead warrior fights in eerie silence. Your last blow shatters one of its skeletal arms and it executes another leap, which takes it out of range.

Suddenly, it turns virtually invisible, until only a reddish outline enables you to determine its position. Then it attacks you again. Continue the fight, but you cannot use Iaijutsu again if you have that skill, and subtract 2 from your skill while it is invisible. The first time you hit it, turn to 58.

The fight, continued:
[spoiler] Round 5: Undead Samurai Attack Strength: 21, Player Attack Strength: 19;
Undead Samurai Stamina: 5, Player Stamina: 13
Round 6: Undead Samurai Attack Strength: 12, Player Attack Strength: 19;
Undead Samurai Stamina: 3, Player Stamina: 13[/spoiler]

The Undead Samurai deals 2 more Stamina damage to Gogo Yubari before she lands another blow against it.

58
Once again it leaps back to the other end of the bridge. It turns fully visible once more and gives a strange ululating cry. To your horror the skeletal bodies floating in the bloody river stir and come to life. Six of them begin to climb on to the bridge. If you have the skill of Kyujutsu and wish to try to shoot the undead Samurai, turn to 134. If not, turn to 242.

Please vote before 1:00 PM PST to guarantee that it will be counted.

Adventure Sheet:
[spoiler]Gogo Yubari
SKILL: 12 Initial Skill = 12
STAMINA: 13 Initial Stamina = 20
LUCK: 8 Initial Luck = 8
NOTES:
Possesses Katana and Wakizashi, Battle Armour, Backpack, Bow, 3 Willow-leaf Arrows (2 STAMINA damage), 1 Bowel-raker (3 STAMINA damage), 1 Armour-piercer (2 STAMINA damage, required for use against certain opponents), 3 Humming Bulbs (1 STAMINA damage, makes a frightening noise), Headband of Shinmen, 115 Gold Pieces, White Eagle Feather Arrow (can dispel evil spirits), Suit of Samurai Armour, War-fan, Talisman of Fortuitous Circumstance (jade talisman shaped like a dragon)
HONOUR: 7
PROVISIONS REMIANING: 7
SPECIAL SKILL: Kyujutsu
[/spoiler]

[Queen of Swords]

We need to do something to stop it, so sure, lets try shooting it.

[Beroli]

Shoot the undead samurai. If it asks if we use a white eagle feather arrow, the answer is yes. (If it doesn't ask then use normal arrows.)

[JourneymanN00b]

Votes registered, Gogo Yubari will try to shoot the undead Samurai.

134
If you have an arrow with white eagle feathers, crafted by Tsunewara, and wish to fire it, turn to 192. Otherwise, you draw and loose an ordinary arrow (turn to 164).

[spoiler][/spoiler]

Because there was already a prior vote to use the White Eagle Feather arrow, I will go ahead and have Gogo Yubari fire it.

192
The arrow flies true and thuds into its chest. The undead Samurai shrieks horribly and falls to the ground. There it begins to dissolve, as does the arrow, until there is nothing left but ash. As it does so, the skeletons fall back into the river and sink from sight. The redness fades from the river and the sky lightens.

You walk across the bridge, and inspect the heap of ash. Among the ashes you notice an ivory horn of fine workmanship inlaid with silver tracery depicting a sabre-toothed tiger. You pick it up and walk on. Turn to 211.

211
You follow the road to the mountains and the lair of Ikiru. The day passes uneventfully and you spend the night under the stars. You rise the next day, refreshed. You may restore up to 2 STAMINA points. You press on, leaving the road, until you come to the Shios’ii Mountains. A goat-track climbs up one of the largest mountains and you decide to follow it. Turn to 8.

8
[spoiler][/spoiler]

You are slowly working your way up the mountainside when a tingling sensation, like an itch on your brain, causes you to pull up short. You look up, and suddenly an imposing figure stands before you. Dressed in fine robes and armour of silver and gold, it is a tall, muscular man-like being. Its face is handsome to look upon, clean and pure; but it is the purity of complete evil. Its eyes burn with violet flame and its whole being radiates power and malice. It is a Dai-Oni, or greater demon.

‘So, mortal, you would seek entry to the domain of Ikiru, Master of Shadows?’ it says, its words resonant with strength. ‘To do so, you must defeat me in the Tourney of the Planes.’ Then the Dai-Oni begins to fade, laughing maniacally, the laughter echoing like thunder all around you.

Suddenly you find yourself in open space. In every direction stretch the endless stars, and your mind reels as you try to take it all in. Then your vision fixes on the doors, bringing you back from the edge of madness. You are surrounded by eight doors, one in each of the walls of an octagonal room; but the walls, ceiling and floor are transparent.

Then the voice of the Dai-Oni fills your head. ‘This place is called the Hub. Behind each door lies some powerful beast. You must try to win as many of these creatures over to your cause as you can. They will then aid you in battle. For, when you are ready, you will have to face me and my allies in a struggle to the death at the Place of Battle. If, somehow, you should triumph, then you may enter the Pit of Demons and there meet your fate at the hands of Ikiru. So let it begin, and may fortune desert you and the blight of a thousand sores be visited upon you.’ The voice fades. It seems you have no choice but to play the Tourney of the Planes. Each door is labelled. Which door will you go through first:

The Pinnacle of Ultimate Height? Turn to 30
The Elder Plains? Turn to 68
The Mountain of Ineffable Holiness? Turn to 66
The Endless Sands of Akhon? Turn to 78
The Swamps of Primordial Mire? Turn to 98
The Eternal Tower? Turn to 110
The Enchanted Wood? Turn to 126
The Place of Battle? Turn to 138

I will be offline for the rest of the day and tomorrow morning to spend time with family, and will not have internet access then. With this music playing in the background, please vote before 4:00 PM PST tomorrow to guarantee that it will be counted.

Adventure Sheet:
[spoiler]Gogo Yubari
SKILL: 12 Initial Skill = 12
STAMINA: 15 Initial Stamina = 20
LUCK: 8 Initial Luck = 8
NOTES:
Possesses Katana and Wakizashi, Battle Armour, Backpack, Bow, 3 Willow-leaf Arrows (2 STAMINA damage), 1 Bowel-raker (3 STAMINA damage), 1 Armour-piercer (2 STAMINA damage, required for use against certain opponents), 3 Humming Bulbs (1 STAMINA damage, makes a frightening noise), Headband of Shinmen, 115 Gold Pieces, Suit of Samurai Armour, War-fan, Talisman of Fortuitous Circumstance (jade talisman shaped like a dragon), Ivory Horn
HONOUR: 7
PROVISIONS REMIANING: 7
SPECIAL SKILL: Kyujutsu
[/spoiler]

[Queen of Swords]

I have no idea who or what might be waiting behind the doors, so I vote for taking them in order. The Pinnacle of Ultimate Height first.

[Beroli]

I do remember some of these, and so the Pinnacle of Ultimate Height is good.

[Thaluikhain]

Huh, this is more than a little "Challenge of the Magi", by the same authors. But as yet that isn't giving me any clues. So, Pinnacle of Ultimate Height seems as good as ever.

[JourneymanN00b]

Votes registered, Gogo Yubari will go through the Pinnacle of Ultimate Height first.

30
[spoiler][/spoiler]

You open the door marked ‘The Pinnacle of Ultimate Height’. The next thing you know, you are standing on a thin pinnacle of rock, high in a strange yellow sky. An orange sun burns overhead. Far below, the ground is a dark red colour. From horizon to horizon tower thousands of these pinnacles, but you are standing on the highest. Behind you, a door hangs in the air, a gate through the worlds to the Hub.

A speck appears in the sky and grows larger as it nears you. It turns out to be a Tatsu, a wingless air-riding dragon. It has a massive serpent-like body, with four taloned legs, and it seems to be walking on air. If you have encountered the Tatsu in the Forest of Shadows already, turn to 144. If not, turn to 156.

[spoiler][/spoiler]

Gogp Yubari has already encountered the Tatsu in the Forest of Shadows.

144
The Tatsu is the one from the forest. It recognizes you and halts before you. If you have a jade amulet fashioned in the shape of a dragon, turn to 12. If not, turn to 166.

Gogo Yubari does have a jade amulet fashioned in the shape of a dragon.

12
‘So,’ the Tatsu thunders, ‘you have managed to get as far as the Tourney of the Planes, mortal! Well done! I have decided to help you in your battle against the Dai-Oni, for I too wish to see Ikiru, Master of Shadows, slain. When you step through the portal to the Place of Battle, I shall be there to fight for you.’ With that it flies away. You can do nothing more, so you step back through the door behind you, and find yourself back at the Hub, surrounded by stars. Note down that you have won over the Tatsu to your cause before returning to 8 and choosing another option. Do not choose an option you have already tried.

Well, it looks like we got our first ally without too much of an effort, which calls for this music to be played.

The remaining options from 8 are:

“The Elder Plains? Turn to 68
The Mountain of Ineffable Holiness? Turn to 66
The Endless Sands of Akhon? Turn to 78
The Swamps of Primordial Mire? Turn to 98
The Eternal Tower? Turn to 110
The Enchanted Wood? Turn to 126
The Place of Battle? Turn to 138”

Please vote before 8:00 PM PST to guarantee that it will be counted.

Adventure Sheet:
[spoiler]Gogo Yubari
SKILL: 12 Initial Skill = 12
STAMINA: 15 Initial Stamina = 20
LUCK: 8 Initial Luck = 8
NOTES:
Possesses Katana and Wakizashi, Battle Armour, Backpack, Bow, 3 Willow-leaf Arrows (2 STAMINA damage), 1 Bowel-raker (3 STAMINA damage), 1 Armour-piercer (2 STAMINA damage, required for use against certain opponents), 3 Humming Bulbs (1 STAMINA damage, makes a frightening noise), Headband of Shinmen, 115 Gold Pieces, Suit of Samurai Armour, War-fan, Talisman of Fortuitous Circumstance (jade talisman shaped like a dragon), Ivory Horn
Won over Tatsu to her cause
HONOUR: 7
PROVISIONS REMIANING: 7
SPECIAL SKILL: Kyujutsu
[/spoiler]

[Beroli]

The Enchanted Wood.

[Queen of Swords]

I'm still in favor of taking these in order, so... the Elder Plains.